Grisanti's Hydro-Fracking Legislation

Buffalo, NY - It's a controversial issue that continues to generate strong opinions for those who support, or oppose the potential use of high volume hydro-fracking here in Western New York.

This week State Senator Mark Grisanti is taking action involving a by-product of the fracking process. Grisanti told 2 On Your Side, he's introducing legislation that he'd like to get signed into law.

Grisanti hopes to prevent wastewater from the fracking process from being trucked to Western New York to be treated, and made safe. Gristanti's District currently includes both Buffalo and Niagara Falls.

High volume hydro-fracking is the process where millions of gallons of water and other substances are pumped under extremely high pressure to fracture shale rock. This releases natural gas. The water used is left polluted by chemicals, but can be purified through treatment.

Friday afternoon Grisanti spoke to a group that consisted of mostly those who oppose fracking. The Senator, who is also the Chairman of the Senate Committee on Environmental Conservation, presented his proposal to prevent that water from coming here.

"No public treatment facility including Niagara Falls and the City of Tonawanda that accept industrial waste will not be allowed to accept this flow back water," said Grisanti.

As far as the actual fracking process goes, its illegal in New York State right now, though the Department of Environmental Conservation is deciding whether to allow it.